In the play A Raisin in the Sun, Mama Younger makes the decision to purchase a home in an all white neighborhood. Soon after the Youngers move in, a representative from the planning committee visits the Youngers and offers them a large sum of money, twice the amount that they had originally paid for their house. This "buy-out" was an attempt to get the Youngers to move out of the white neighborhood. Lorraine Hansberry uses this event--which happens to be based on a personal experience--to expose the discrimination that was happening during the 1950's and 1960's. The Youngers were not welcome in an all white neighborhood simply because they were of a different color--black.
Are there traces of this type of discrimination today? Are there homes and communities in San Diego that send messages like, "Please, no poor people" or "We welcome the rich and successful" or "Find a different place to live--you are not welcome." To be fair, there are all types of building projects in San Diego, some designed for the wealthy elite and some designed for the first time home buyer. But where are the lines drawn and who draws them? Can I live anywhere I want? Can the poor live among the wealthy? Do city planners, city council members, and government officials draw up plans that will attract certain types of people while at the same time shewing others away? How is the message "This is not a place for you" communicated without actually saying it?
In order to answer some of these questions, investigate a new housing development or planned community in San Diego County. Click on either Pardee Homes, D-R Horton, or The Estates at Stonebridge to view new housing projects in San Diego. Use the following questions to guide your investigation. Record your findings in the space directly under the questions. Use a different color or font to separate your answers from the questions. If you would like to discuss a development that has not been discussed, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "here" for a set of investigative questions that you can copy and paste onto this page. Be sure to paste the new set of questions below the existing investigative work.
San Diego Real Estate
In the play A Raisin in the Sun, Mama Younger makes the decision to purchase a home in an all white neighborhood. Soon after the Youngers move in, a representative from the planning committee visits the Youngers and offers them a large sum of money, twice the amount that they had originally paid for their house. This "buy-out" was an attempt to get the Youngers to move out of the white neighborhood. Lorraine Hansberry uses this event--which happens to be based on a personal experience--to expose the discrimination that was happening during the 1950's and 1960's. The Youngers were not welcome in an all white neighborhood simply because they were of a different color--black.Are there traces of this type of discrimination today? Are there homes and communities in San Diego that send messages like, "Please, no poor people" or "We welcome the rich and successful" or "Find a different place to live--you are not welcome." To be fair, there are all types of building projects in San Diego, some designed for the wealthy elite and some designed for the first time home buyer. But where are the lines drawn and who draws them? Can I live anywhere I want? Can the poor live among the wealthy? Do city planners, city council members, and government officials draw up plans that will attract certain types of people while at the same time shewing others away? How is the message "This is not a place for you" communicated without actually saying it?
In order to answer some of these questions, investigate a new housing development or planned community in San Diego County. Click on either Pardee Homes, D-R Horton, or The Estates at Stonebridge to view new housing projects in San Diego. Use the following questions to guide your investigation. Record your findings in the space directly under the questions. Use a different color or font to separate your answers from the questions. If you would like to discuss a development that has not been discussed, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "here" for a set of investigative questions that you can copy and paste onto this page. Be sure to paste the new set of questions below the existing investigative work.
Pardee Homes
What is the name of the development?
Where is located?
Who are they marketing to? What "type" of homeowner are they trying to attract?
What do they say in their advertisements?
Who is shown living in this community?
What is the feel of the community?
How secure is the community?
What is the cost of the homes? Who could afford these homes?
D-R Horton
What is the name of the development?
Where is located?
Who are they marketing to? What "type" of homeowner are they trying to attract?
What do they say in their advertisements?
Who is shown living in this community?
What is the feel of the community?
How secure is the community?
What is the cost of the homes? Who could afford these homes?
The Estates at Stonebridge
What is the name of the development?
Where is located?
Who are they marketing to? What "type" of homeowner are they trying to attract?
What do they say in their advertisements?
Who is shown living in this community?
What is the feel of the community?
How secure is the community?
What is the cost of the homes? Who could afford these homes?
For a new set of investigative questions click here.